Each week at CrossWay we have a children’s offering called Nickels 4 Neighbors. It’s something that our conference does. All 34 churches in the conference collect this offering each week, and every six months we give it to a ministry that benefits children. It’s really cool to see all the kids come up each week to drop in their money. They’re learning to give, and to give as an act of worship. It’s also pretty neat that this offering helps other kids.

The past three weeks, Laura Marie has participated in the Nickels 4 Neighbors collection. Since she can walk now, she’s able to come up (with some… um… direction) and drop money into the container. It’s so cute to watch her walking up there with the other kids!

As I was reflecting on last Sunday’s worship service, a certain irony hit me. Laura Marie came up during Nickels 4 Neighbors, carrying her dollar (apparently this offering was named before inflation), but she didn’t want to let go of it! Here’s her daddy three minutes away from preaching about money, and she won’t let go of her dollar.

Actually, it’s a pretty good illustration of stewardship, but I didn’t think of it at the time. She was given that money specifically for the purpose of giving it to the children’s offering, but she wanted to hold on to it. How often do we do that with what God has entrusted to us for a specific purpose?

When I told Carolyn about all this, she told Laura Marie that she should have stayed in the service for the sermon. Funny mommy. That reminds me: Sunday marked a milestone for Laura Marie. She stayed in the nursery without her mommy for the first time! Of course, it helps that she had four other babies to play with.

It’s really a blessing and a privelage to be at a church with so many great kids. We love our CrossWay Kids!! Laura Marie is just an amazing kid already–I can’t WAIT to see what God does in (and through) her life.